Every year during the traditional Sunday Sukkot party, all the men in my family sit around the television and watch football. And, every year, my pop-pop reminds me of the greatest quarterback to play the game. In his advanced age, my grandfather can't cut up his own food, yet he remains crafty enough to manipulate every and any conversation about football to be focused on the merits of just one quarterback. He constantly reminds me of how he slung the ball all over the field and the receivers never had to move to catch it. The manner in which he glided past would-be tacklers and moved around the pocket to find the open man. How he was a hero to the youth of America, and a true gentleman to the ladies (domestic abuse didn't become as fashionable until the late '90s).

You would assume he was speaking of Bradshaw or Staubach or Starr. But, you would assume wrong.

My pop-pop is speaking of the late, great Sid Luckman.

Luckman was a perennial All-Pro and Hall of Fame inductee. He won four NFL championships and five Western Conference titles with the Chicago Bears during the 1940s, and was named league MVP in 1943. The former Columbia tailback once threw a then-record seven touchdowns in a game against the New York Giants. More importantly, he helped invent the "T" formation that helped open up and modernize the game, helping increase its popularity to the masses. He was, quite possibly, the best quarterback of his era. Yet, what truly separates him from the rest of the all-time greats, at least in my pop-pop's eyes, is that he was a member of the tribe. Ya know, a Jew.

Who can fault my pop-pop for being so biased? Over the course of the past 50, 60, 70 years has our perspective even changed? Raised on a healthy dose of checking e-mail and watching SportsCenter before going to Rosh Hashanah services, do the Jewish people of the 21st century have such a radically different perspective on today's sports and athletes? If Jay Fiedler is playing the Redskins, I feel morally compelled to cheer for him at any cost.

What was the first thought that went through your mind when you saw the highlights of Shawn Green and his miraculous May game? Was it, "what a nice ballplayer" or "he's a Jew!"?

I believe it is something imbedded in our blood, dating back to the times of Moses, Joseph and Issac, that we yearn to cheer for our own above all others. And, this phenomenon does not only occur in the world of sports. Quite recently, when Senator Joe Lieberman nearly became this nation's vice president, did you cheer for him because he was a stand-up guy? No, because during political debates he was asked how he could help govern a nation on Shabbas.

Why, though, is this unique to the Jews? If it's because we are a minority, then why don't Muslims cheer so devoutly for the man formerly known as Mark Jackson?

Each and every Jewish sports fan in this country religiously followed the careers of the "Jewish Jordan" and Doron Scheffer (both now playing in Israel). We all wish that Hank Greenberg could have set the homerun record, or that Sandy could have played a little longer. And, I assume that you, too, hope that USC's David Blumenthal becomes the first player in the NBA in quite some time to actually come off the bench (my apologies to Danny Schayes).

And so, I would like to leave you this week with a friendly reminder of just some of today's athletes who have been able to succeed despite Jewish guilt, "healthy" Jewish cooking and, most importantly, a bris.

Three members of the Anaheim Angels don't cross themselves before running onto the field. They are pitchers Al Levine and Scott Schoeneweis, as well as shortstop David Eckstein. Other Jewish baseball players include Dodger great Shawn Green, Rangers outfielder Gabe Kapler, Braves starting pitcher Jason Marquis and Phillie catcher Mike Lieberthal.

Soon to be on Broadway, "Jews on Skates." Capitals' Jeff Halpern, Sharks' right winger Ronnie Stern and Kings' blueliner Mathieu Schneider are Jewish.

The following gentlemen broke with the tradition that Jews don't play football (and instead own the team): Both Dolphin quarterbacks, Jay Fiedler and Sage Rosenfels, are members of the tribe as well as Steelers punter Josh Miller and Jets tight end Scott Slutzker.

Add recent Olympic champions Sasha Cohen, Sarah Hughes and Sara DeCosta, who all braved the ice sheets of Utah. And, don't forget that 11 Jews took home medals in the 2000 Sydney games. Most notably, Lenny Krayzelburg (three gold medals) and Anthony Erwin.

One final Jew that most Americans aren't aware of is the 2002 US Open and 14-time Grand Slam champion. Yup, you guessed right. Mr. Pete Sampras is a Jew. His surname, in Greek, actually means Greek-Jew. Check it for your self at http://www.tennisserver.com/netgame/netgame_10_2_96.html